The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

County approves middle school site for Learning Gate

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Learning Gate Community School has received Hillsborough County’s blessing to locate its classes for seventh- and eighth-graders in the former Hand-in-Hand Academy building near downtown Lutz.

Learning Gate Community School has gained approval for using buildings located at 207 Lutz Lake Fern Road to house its seventh- and eighth-graders. Even though that hurdle has been cleared, no details are available yet on when or whether the school will make the move to the site. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Learning Gate Community School has gained approval for using buildings located at 207 Lutz Lake Fern Road to house its seventh- and eighth-graders. Even though that hurdle has been cleared, no details are available yet on when or whether the school will make the move to the site.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Land use hearing officer James Scarola approved Learning Gate’s request to use the location at 207 Lutz Lake Fern Road for its middle school-level students. The approval, issued June 29, limits the enrollment, however, at the Lutz Lake Fern Road location to 205 students.

That’s 45 fewer students than the school initially requested. The school agreed to reduce its request after Mike White, president of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, objected to the higher number.

At a June 2 public hearing, White told Scarola the site was not conducive for that many students. White also said the community has no problems with the school, simply with the proposed enrollment, according to the hearing officer’s June 29 ruling.

During a recent interview, White said the school also agreed to sign a private agreement with the Lutz Citizens Coalition pledging that it would never ask for a variance to allow more students at the site.

The 4-acre site previously had been approved for 175 kindergarten through fifth-grade students. Of those, up to 85 were allowed to be in child care.

The property, which is included in Hillsborough County’s Landmark and Historic Archeological Resources Inventory, contains a church that was built in the 1940s and two educational buildings that were constructed during the 1960s.

No additions or expansions are requested in Learning Gate’s application.

The county’s transportation department reviewed the request and concluded the school will not impact traffic on nearby roads. The school is expected to generate 225 trips during the peak morning hours, and 151 during the afternoon peak hours.

However, the transportation department has determined that a detailed traffic study will be needed and it may show the need for such improvements as paving, widening and construction of a turn lane.

Learning Gate is a nationally recognized charter school that operates at two locations in Tampa. Its campus for kindergarten through sixth grade is at 16215 Hanna Road, and its campus for seventh and eighth grade is at 15316 N. Florida Avenue.

Even though Learning Gate applied for permission to operate a school at the Lutz Lake Fern location, no additional information is available about Learning Gate’s plans.

Brian Erickson, president of Learning Gate’s board, said in an email that “at this time, it would be inappropriate for anyone to comment.

“There are many unanswered questions. We are having ongoing communications with the bank who holds the note, but we are still doing our due diligence on the property,” Erickson wrote.

Published July 9, 2014

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Enjoy your summer: Avoid a trip to the ER

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If you’ve been outdoors lately, no doubt you’ve observed that Florida’s steamy days of summer have arrived with a vengeance.

You also may have noticed there are a lot more kids riding bicycles in the street, splashing around in pools, and hanging off equipment at the local playground.

Going to the beach is a fun summer pastime, but three local doctors want to make sure that trip doesn’t end up in the emergency room. (File Photo)
Going to the beach is a fun summer pastime, but three local doctors want to make sure that trip doesn’t end up in the emergency room.
(File Photo)

The roads are busier, too. Cars and trucks snake toward the beach, and families have packed up to hit the road for vacation. There are a lot more people firing up their backyard grills and having picnics at parks, too.

Summer and its pastimes can offer a pleasant break, but is also can lead to illnesses or injuries, prompting unwanted trips to the local emergency room. There are ways, though, to lower your risk of getting sick or injured.

Three physicians — from Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and St. Joseph’s Hospital-North — shared their observations about the types of summer injuries that typically arrive at their emergency departments, and they offered suggestions to help people avoid the need for medical care.

On the road
“We see increased motor vehicle accidents,” said Dr. Javier Gonzalez, assistant medical director of the emergency department at the Zephyrhills hospital. Wear a seat belt, he added, because it reduces injuries and save lives.

It’s important to safeguard children, too. Be sure they have the appropriate type of protection, such as car seats or child-restraint chairs, he said. Head injuries tend to increase in the summer, too, because of greater use of bicycles, skateboards and in-line skates, Gonzalez said.

Be sure to wear helmets and make sure they fit properly, he said. Also, be sure the chinstrap is strapped beneath your chin to help protect the side of your head.

Use wrist guards to help prevent injuries, too.

“A lot of these people wear helmets, but when they fall, they put their hands down first, so they get a lot of wrist injuries,” Gonzalez said.

In the water
The importance of water safety cannot be overstated. “In Florida, a lot of people have pools. Make sure they have gates,” Gonzalez said.

Constant vigilance is required when children are in or around water, he added.

“Don’t take a break to get on the phone. I hear that all of the time, ‘I just went out for a second to speak to somebody or to pick up the phone.’ Before they know it, two minutes have passed by and the child is dead at the bottom of the pool.”

At public pools, be sure the child is within view of the lifeguard, Gonzalez said. Drownings at the beach often result from swimmers getting caught in riptides, so be sure to swim across the current, not against it.

“Always wear a life vest, as well, if you are doing activities like jet skiing,” he said. It’s also wise to do so when you’re cruising in a boat.

Besides the potential for drowning accidents, there are other risks associated with the water, Cordero said.

Diving accidents can cause serious neck injuries, she said.

When someone gets hurt diving, it’s important to get them out of the water to make sure they’re breathing, said Dr. Katrina Cordero, associate medical director of the emergency room at St. Joseph’s Hospital–North. Then, make sure they keep their neck still until help arrives.

Enjoying the outdoors
When you’re having a cookout or picnic, pay attention to how long the food has been sitting out, Gonzalez said. Some foods must be refrigerated, and if they are left out too long, it can cause people to become ill.

Store uncooked meats in separate coolers to avoid issues with cross contamination. Also, be sure to thoroughly cook meat and chicken, he said.

All three doctors said drinking water is important to avoid dehydration.

“There’s a misconception that you can actually keep up with your hydration once you’re outside, or once you’re doing the activity,” said Dr. Michael Longley, medical director of the emergency department at the Wesley Chapel hospital. “The reality is you really need to pre-hydrate. Drink a lot either the night before or a couple of hours before you’re going to be outside.

“You’re losing water with every breath you take, you’re losing water with the heat itself. You’re losing water with sweating and you’re losing water with the activity that you’re doing. It’s compounded and there’s just no way to keep up if the tank isn’t full to begin with,” Longley said.

How much you need to drink varies based on your size. An adult should drink a liter or two before they go out. A child should drink about half of that, Longley said.

To help people drink enough water, Longley offers this piece of advice: “I tend to tell kids and adults, alike, to add a little extra salt to their meal. It drives the thirst. It helps the muscle function and it helps you to hold in a little of the water, as well.”

People who suffer from heat cramps, heat stroke and heat exhaustion haven’t hydrated before they go outside, Longley said. Often, people don’t realize how hot they are because they’ve been out in the sun for hours, take a dip and feel a cool breeze.

Sunburn is a problem, too, St. Joe’s Cordero said. People often underestimate the intensity of the sun here.

“They fall asleep on the beach,” she said, and when they wake up, they have painful sunburn.

The same thing can happen when people are out working in the yard and haven’t applied sunscreen, she said. They get busy and forget how much sun exposure they’ve had.

Cordero also offered this tip to avoid becoming dehydrated: Carry a bottle of water or Gatorade around with you, to remind yourself to drink. Some people like to quench their thirst with a beer or another alcoholic drink.

“Beer is OK,” Cordero said. But “don’t let it be your only means of hydration.”

Rockets’ red glare
The increased amount of recreation during summer months tends to result in more people visiting the ER with injuries, Longley said. “We see a lot more broken bones.”

It’s also a time of year when there’s an uptick in fireworks injuries, which are typically unique injuries that require expert medical attention.

“Explosions can cause all sorts of tissue damage locally,” Longley said. “Particles can be inhaled. They can be embedded in the eye.”

The injuries can get complicated quickly.

“Something that seems simple can be way more complex a few hours later,” Longley said.

Sometimes the steps taken immediately after a fireworks injury can make a big difference, Cordero said. If a fingertip is blown off, for example, it’s important to try to find the fingertip, she said. It should be placed in a cloth that has been dampened with water, placed in a plastic bag, and then all put into a larger bag that has some ice in it.

“You don’t want any direct contact with ice,” Cordero said. “That could cause some tissue damage.”

Tips for a safer summer
• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Start drinking water before you head out for the day, and keep drinking it throughout the day to stay hydrated.

• If you’re grilling, be sure to cook your meats thoroughly. Also, do not allow children to be near hot grills.

• If you’re having a gathering, be sure to keep foods that need refrigeration in coolers until shortly before you need them. Keep them away from direct sunlight and don’t leave them out for more than an hour.

• Wear helmets while riding bikes, skateboarding or rollerblading. Wear wrist guards, too.

• Be vigilant when there are children around water. A happy gathering can turn tragic within minutes.

• Wear sunscreen to avoid sunburn. Be sure to reapply it if you decided to take a dip in a pool or at the beach.

• Wear life jackets on boats and seat belts in cars.

Water Safety Tips
Ways to improve safety:

• Never leave a child unattended at a pool or a spa.

• Teach children basic water safety skills.

• Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings.

• Have a telephone nearby to enable a quick call to emergency agencies.

• If a child is missing, check the pool or spa first.

• Learn CPR.

• Install a 4-foot fence around the perimeter of the pool with a self-closing, self-latching gate.

• Having life-saving equipment such as life rings or floats available and easily accessible.

For information, visit PoolSafely.gov.

Published July 9, 2014

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Mosquito-borne chikungunya cases on the rise

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As more cases of people infected by the chikungunya virus are reported in Florida, public health officials are spreading the word about the need to take precautions.

Chikungunya is spread by two mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, both of which are found in Florida.

This mosquito, an Aedes aegypti, is one of two species that transmits the chikungunya virus. Health officials are urging the public to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to protect themselves from any of the illnesses that mosquitoes can transmit. (Courtesy of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
This mosquito, an Aedes aegypti, is one of two species that transmits the chikungunya virus. Health officials are urging the public to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to protect themselves from any of the illnesses that mosquitoes can transmit.
(Courtesy of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

“It’s a virus that’s been around in Asia and Africa for many, many years,” said Amanda Pullman, an epidemiologist with the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County. Only recently, it started spreading throughout Central and South Americas and the Caribbean Islands, “and now very specifically, it’s getting closer in the Americas.”

“Because of the geographic closeness, the proximity to Florida, we’ve become very concerned that this is something we could have here locally,” she said. “So we want to prevent that.”

Cases continue to rise in Florida, but as of last week, the people who have been infected with the virus are those who have traveled to other places, Pullman said.

The virus is not transmitted from person to person directly, but is spread by infected mosquitoes. Some people who contract the virus have no symptoms at all, while others can have debilitating pain that can last for months or even years, Pullman said.

Other symptoms can include a high fever, headaches, visible swelling and joint pain.

Some people are simply tired for a few days, Pullman said. Others have intestinal symptoms.

There’s no vaccine or treatment, but people experiencing symptoms can seek medical care and receive medication for pain and fever, Pullman said. People should go the hospital or see their doctor if they suspect they have chikungunya, to give the health department a better chance of combating its spread.

When a positive test comes back in Hillsborough County, for instance, the mosquito control department heads out to eradicate mosquitoes near the infected person’s residence. By killing mosquitoes in the vicinity, it decreases the possibility of local transmission of the virus, Pullman said.

Preventing local transmission of chikungunya is especially important in Florida, which is a heavy tourism state. “Given our lifestyle here in Florida, lots of us like to be outside,” Pullman said. “There’s all kinds of things at the beach and with the holidays especially coming up, people spend a lot of time outdoors.”

To reduce the risk of contracting chikungunya or other viruses spread by mosquitoes, when people are outdoors, they should be sure to wear mosquito repellent on exposed skin, both day and night, advised Deanna Krautner, public information officer for the Pasco County Health Department. It’s also a good idea to wear lightweight pants and long-sleeved shirts to reduce potential exposure for mosquito bites.

Residents also can help reduce breeding sites for mosquitoes.

“If you see standing water of any sort, try to dump and cover,” Pullman said. Even the smallest amount of standing water can be a problem. “A bottle cap in someone’s backyard can breed a hundred larvae.”

“Residents can go around their house and inspect where water is pooling. Try to empty those or cap those or flip them over, so the water doesn’t pool,” Krautner said.

If mosquitoes are biting, Krautner said, it’s a good idea to go indoors. Those leaving windows open to enjoy an evening breeze need to be sure their screens are in good repair.

The bottom line, Krautner said, is to be aware that mosquitoes can carry viruses that make people ill, and people should do what they can to avoid being bit.

Published July 2, 2014

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Gulfside Hospice celebrates a quarter-century of care

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In the beginning, it was known as Central Gulfside Hospice, serving only patients in New Port Richey.

Now, a quarter-century later, it’s known as Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care, with about 1,500 admissions a year across Pasco County.

Linda Ward, president and chief executive of Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care, will be among those celebrating the care provider’s 25th anniversary at a Founder’s Day Breakfast on July 8. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Linda Ward, president and chief executive of Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care, will be among those celebrating the care provider’s 25th anniversary at a Founder’s Day Breakfast on July 8.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The organization has 14 locations, including a corporate resource office in Land O’ Lakes, clinical branch offices in New Port Richey and Dade City, four inpatient care centers, five thrift shops, a bereavement center, and outreach counseling center.

It has about 265 employees, plus contract employees.

No matter where it delivers services, Gulfside has the same goals in mind, said Linda Ward, its president and chief executive officer.

“A lot of people think that hospice is a place,” Ward said. “Hospice is a concept. The concept is really comfort and quality, peace, dignity.”

Across the country, about 90 percent of hospice patients choose to receive their care at home, Ward said.

Gulfside delivers its hospice care in a wide array of settings including retirement homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, apartments, or other residences, standalone hospice centers — wherever the person lives, Ward said. Gulfside’s team manages the patient’s pain and symptoms, and assists the patient with the emotional and spiritual aspects of end-of-life issues.

It provides necessary medications as well as medical equipment and supplies. Its team coaches families in caring for patients and dealing with a wide array of issues that arise.

When Gulfside was preparing to open a residential care center in Zephyrhills, it took great care in making sure the center was designed with its patients and their loved ones in mind, Ward said. That center opened four years ago, with a goal to create a special environment.

When visitors arrive there, they walk through a space that has the feel of an Italian piazza. Natural light pours through the skylight in the courtyard’s high ceiling. A collection of tables offers visitors a place to sit and relax. A decorative fountain is the focal centerpiece of the room.

Before residential architect Peter Horstman designed the center, Gulfside told him what they were trying to achieve.

“We basically painted a picture of what it was that we wanted patients and families and visitors to experience as soon as they walk through the door,” Ward said.

People are walking into the center with a lot on their minds and the goal is to make the surroundings pleasant and relaxing, Ward said.

Besides spacious patient rooms, the center has a family room that looks out over a pond, a place where visitors and patients can play board games, a children’s play room, and a chapel, complete with stained glass windows.

Providing a quality environment is just one part of the equation, Ward said.

“You can have the most beautiful environment ever, but it’s not everything. It’s really not the most important thing,” Ward said.

Quality of care is vital, and that means having a capable staff that is committed to serving patients, Ward said.

Even though hospice has been around in the United States since the 1970s and has grown substantially since Medicare started covering it in the 1980s, some people still do not understand what it is, Ward said. Some health care professionals remain hesitant to make a hospice referral because they have been trained to try to heal patients, and for them, hospice feels like an admission of failure.

Some patients are even reluctant to accept a hospice referral.

The term “hospice” can provoke fear, Ward explained. “They (patients) think, ‘Oh, my gosh, they’ve called in hospice, that’s it.’”

Some doctors understand the value of referring patients to hospice when there’s still time for the patient to benefit from the available services, Ward said. During those final stages, hospice can help not only the patient, but the patient’s loved ones, too.

Many patients, by they are referred for hospice, may only have a few days to live, Ward said. “That’s when a disservice has been done to the person. The hospice experience is so much more than just the pain and symptom control for the patient. That’s the primary initial first goal — get the person out of pain, immediately. That’s our No. 1 immediate task.

“But then, it’s a holistic approach,” she said, involving a team that includes a social worker, a chaplain, a certified nurse, a physician and a certified nurse’s aid. They help the patient with everything from pain relief to personal hygiene, as well as such issues as spiritual guidance and family dynamics.

“In the world in which we live, families are really having tough times,” Ward said. “The recession was so hard on people, and they’re still trying to come out of it. And so you’ve got those financial factors and psychosocial issues, and now you add terminal illness on top of it, and that’s such a high-stress situation.

“And so, our social workers and chaplains – they are so highly involved in helping people through these things,” Ward said.

Medicare benefits can be used to reimburse hospice providers for patients who have a prognosis of six months or less, Ward said. Many patients, however, outlive their prognosis and can continue to qualify for the services.

Many hospice providers, including Gulfside, also have a separate palliative care program, which aims to provide pain relief for patients who are not hospice-appropriate yet, but ultimately will be, Ward said.

Those patients do not qualify for hospice benefits, but can qualify under Medicare Part B, which has benefits for people who have chronic illness, Ward said.

As it celebrates its 25th anniversary, Gulfside is planning for its future.

“Right now, we’re looking at continued partnerships with other health care providers, to diversify us and grow our business,” Ward said.

Gulfside has an active palliative program with Medical Center of Trinity, she said, noting it does about 30 palliative consults a month with the hospital. Gulfside also has a close relationship with Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

Gulfside’s residential center in Zephyrhills has strong ties to Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, Ward said. “Ninety-nine percent of all of our patients who come to this care center come from Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.”

Published July 2, 2014

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Security expert offers safety pointers at local AARP meeting

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While criminals always are looking for ways to take advantage of others, there are plenty of things people can do to reduce their chance of becoming a target.

Many crimes occur because people make it easy for criminals, security expert Brian MacNeel told members of the Land O’ Lakes chapter of the AARP at its June 27 meeting. For instance, 38 percent of burglaries occur because someone left a door or window open, and more than half of all cars stolen had the keys in the ignition.

Brian MacNeel provided plenty of pointers to help members of the Land O’ Lakes AARP chapter protect themselves from would-be intruders, as well as identify thieves and other criminals. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Brian MacNeel provided plenty of pointers to help members of the Land O’ Lakes AARP chapter protect themselves from would-be intruders, as well as identify thieves and other criminals.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

High-tech criminals also are opportunists. They send emails that look legitimate because they cut and paste information from genuine banks to create a document that looks authentic, MacNeel said.

Then they use that document to attempt to obtain private information from account holders. Once they have that, they access the accounts, steal the money and wire it to an overseas account.

There’s an easy way to avoid these kinds of scams, MacNeel told the crowd. Just don’t send private information to anyone who calls, sends a text or emails requesting it. People who do get this type of communication and are not sure if it’s legitimate should visit or call their bank using numbers known to be authentic.

Scammers have stolen billions of dollars using these kinds of scams, MacNeel said.

Another way to deter identity theft is to be sure to shred any pre-approved offer that comes in the mail. Those documents contain information about people that can be used to steal their identity, MacNeel said.

He also offered tips for personal self-protection. For instance, he told the crowd that parking lots are highly vulnerable places. When people go shopping, they should seek a parking space as close to the store as possible.

It’s important to be aware of surroundings, and to look for a parking spot in a well-lit space. Also, avoid parking next to a truck with side panels.

When returning to their car, drivers should be sure to have their keys out and to check the area around their car for someone who might be lurking there. Check the back seat before getting into the car as well, MacNeel said.

It’s a good idea to carry police-strength pepper spray, he added. That can be sprayed at an attacker who is 10 to 15 feet away.

If someone tries to take a purse or wallet, let the robber have it, MacNeel said. People who try to hold on to these possessions can end up being dragged and injured.

Of course, another way to protect valuables is for women to carry a small pocket purse that contains their money, identification and credit cards, he said. Women should put that in their pocket before they enter the parking lot, then a purse snatcher would just get the other items in the purse, such as makeup, tissues and such.

Men, he suggested, should carry a second wallet with just a small amount of cash that they can toss away from themselves.

When getting gas, be sure to roll up the windows, take keys and lock the door, MacNeel said. People running into the convenience shop to pick up an item often come back to find laptops, purses and other items gone because they didn’t lock their car.

The security expert also provided tips on how to prevent home burglaries. One of the best ways is to post “Beware of Dog” signs. Another good idea is to have a large dog bowl full of water near a door, he said.

Burglars don’t like to encounter big dogs when they’re rifling through possessions, he said.

It’s also a good idea to leave a radio or television on, tuned to a talk show, to help create the impression that someone is home. Shatterproof windows, secure locks and an alarm system are other good deterrents, MacNeel said.

Cellphones also can save lives, he said. Keep a cellphone on the night stand. If a burglar cuts the home’s phone lines, someone with a cellphone can still call 911.

A safety flashlight is another piece of equipment that can save lives, MacNeel said.

These flashlights are intended to prevent people from being trapped in their car. They contain a blade that can cut the seat belt. The body can be used to break a passenger window, and the light can help passengers see their path to escape, MacNeel said.

Be sure to choose a safety flashlight that can be easily accessed from the driver’s seat. Some models are so large they must be carried in the trunk, providing little help when a car is submerged in water, said MacNeel, who works for Protech Security Solutions of Brandon. The company makes free appearances before groups of all sizes to help people protect themselves.

Anyone who would like to book an appearance by MacNeel can reach him at (813) 661-3700.

The Land O’ Lakes AARP Chapter also welcomes new members, and anyone who wishes to learn more about the organization can reach Phyllis Bross, the chapter president, at (813) 996-1361, or they can email her at .

Published July 2, 2014

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Services for late Don Porter set for July 12

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The community is remembering Don Porter, whose vision helped transform ranch land into an urban center in Wesley Chapel. He died yesterday at the age of 73.

Don Porter
Don Porter

Porter’s family, which owns the sprawling Wiregrass Ranch, sold the land that is now occupied by The Shops at Wiregrass and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. The family donated another 60 acres for what became the Porter Campus of Pasco-Hernando State College.

“Out of all of the accomplishments, I think the thing that he was most proud of was his family,” said his son, J.D. Porter. “He wanted to see everyone do well.”

Pasco County commissioner Pat Mulieri called Porter a “good steward of the land and a southern gentleman.”

“I believe that Don’s generous spirit and clear vision made a difference in the Wesley Chapel area, and set the tone for all future development there,” Mulieri said.

Katherine Johnson, president of PHSC, recalled the first time she met Porter, and how his approachability immediately made her feel at ease.

“We clicked. We just clicked,” she said. “Clearly, we would not have been able to have a campus in Wesley Chapel without the family.”

A memorial service for Don Porter has been scheduled for 2 p.m. on July 12 at the conference center at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

For more on the reaction to the life of Don Porter, read the July 9 edition of The Laker/Lutz News.

Trip to Thailand yields insights for Lutz college student

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When Hunter Rasmussen was a 10th grader at Berean Academy in Lutz, he began learning biblical Greek — and that changed his life.

“I just loved it. I thought it was the most incredible thing,” said Rasmussen, now a 20-year-old student at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. “That made me excited not just about biblical languages, but language in general. I just felt so convinced that this is what I am supposed to do.

Hunter Rasmussen’s village ‘sister’ Khwan presents him with some traditional fabric that was woven by hand. (Courtesy of Hunter Rasmussen)
Hunter Rasmussen’s village ‘sister’ Khwan presents him with some traditional fabric that was woven by hand.
(Courtesy of Hunter Rasmussen)

Rasmussen now takes linguistics classes at Covenant, where he majors in biblical studies with minors in missions and linguistics.

He began looking around last year for an opportunity to do a mission trip, an internship or to take linguistics classes during the summer. When representatives from Wycliffe Bible Translators USA came to Covenant to talk to students about an opportunity to work in Thailand, Rasmussen felt called to pursue it.

Wycliffe is an international organization that has worked for more than 70 years to translate the Bible into every language in the world. This Orlando-based nonprofit organization is named after John Wycliffe, who first translated the Bible into English in the late 1300s.

After hearing about Wycliffe’s Get Global program for college students, Rasmussen began seeking contributions to help him come up with the $4,000 he needed for the trip.

“I just shared with people in different communities that I’m associated with and in my churches, both home and here, and with people at school,” said Rasmussen, who is a member of First United Methodist Church of Lutz. “Lots of family and lots of church members and even some of my peers provided for me.”

Rasmussen spent three weeks in May in Thailand. He seized the opportunity to go to the Asian country, and said the trip yielded valuable insights.

“I think I got the affirmation out of it that God can use me in cross-cultural ministry,” he said. “It’s something I’m able to do.”

Rasmussen spent much of his time immersing himself in the culture of a Thailand village that’s so small, the people there go only by their first names.

When he and his team arrived to the rural village in a pickup truck, Rasmussen noticed many traditional wood homes built on stilts. There were more modern ones, too, with concrete foundations, such as the one where he stayed.

The food was spicy.

“The people group that we stayed with is known for having food that’s even spicier than Thai food (is generally). It was pretty hot, but it was also delicious,” he said. “I loved the food. God really blessed us because nobody on the team got sick at all, or were unable to handle it.”

The villagers there abide by the concept of eating locally produced foods.

“When it’s dinnertime, they’ll go and pick some mangoes from a tree, or grab some leaves from a bush, or pick off some roots, and you have dinner right there,” Rasmussen said. “There was a lot of fish and a lot of chicken.”

They also often gave people nicknames that were associated with food, added Rasmussen, who was given the nickname “Sticky Rice.”

“They named somebody else in our group, ‘Watermelon,’” Rasmussen added.

He noticed a big difference between the American way of life and the village culture when it came to how work is completed.

“They would definitely do work, and we helped them plow fields and catch fish and do things,” Rasmussen said. “But they do them as they need to be done. They don’t follow a strict work schedule.”

In general, he found the people of the village to be laid back and to esteem the values of comfort, convenience and fun.

As a student of linguistics, Rasmussen was fascinated by the fact that the villagers spoke a different language than mainland Thailand.

“Part of the trip is learning and realizing that language-learning and cultural-learning is not only foundational for Bible translations and foundational of ministry, but that language learning is itself a ministry,” he said.

Minority languages often are considered inferior by the nation at large, he explained. “So, by learning their language we show that their language is valuable and created by God,” Rasmussen said. “To be able to do Bible translation, you have to know a tongue.”

The college student said his trip to Thailand didn’t shatter any previously held misconceptions. He had been prepped well by the team leading the trip, he said, where they were told, “When you’re doing cross-cultural living and ministry, don’t expect anything.”

He followed their advice.

“I really tried not to expect anything and just to learn,” he said.

Rasmussen is interested in pursuing a future involved in Bible translation.

“Bible translation is what enables any other ministry,” he said. “That involves not only church planting, but literacy work. Then that opens the way for people to be able to improve their situation, like know more about health care and know more how to nourish themselves correctly and how to do agriculture better.

“Bible translation is also again affirming that God knows even these little languages that are only spoken by a few thousand people, and he values them as much as English, spoken by millions upon millions, or Thai, that’s spoken by the nation at large.”

Rasmussen intends to complete his degree at Covenant and pursue a master’s in linguistics, although he’s not sure where.

“I thought that I would be going to the Graduate Institute for Applied Linguistics, which is in Dallas, part of the International Linguistics Center,” he said.

That path is less certain now.

“Through this trip, I’ve learned there are other ways you can do linguistics schooling and also transition onto the field,” Rasmussen said.

He plans to find out more about those possibilities.

Published June 25, 2014

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A glimpse of paradise awaits at Honeymoon and Caladesi islands

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Located at the extreme west end of State Road 586 in Dunedin, there’s a state park called Honeymoon Island, which draws more than 1.1 million visitors a year.

This idyllic scene provides a glimpse of the tranquility and beauty awaiting visitors at Caladesi Island. You can get there on a 20-minute ferry ride from Honeymoon Island State Park, or walk about four miles north from Clearwater Beach. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
This idyllic scene provides a glimpse of the tranquility and beauty awaiting visitors at Caladesi Island. You can get there on a 20-minute ferry ride from Honeymoon Island State Park, or walk about four miles north from Clearwater Beach.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Beyond that, just a 20-minute ferryboat ride away, there’s another place called Caladesi Island — rated as America’s No. 1 Beach in 2008 by Stephen P. Leatherman, also known as Dr. Beach.

Both islands offer visitors plenty of opportunities to splash in the surf, search for shells and savor nature’s splendor. There are boating, fishing and kayaking options too for those who enjoy being out on the water. There also are places to buy refreshments and shady picnic areas to gather with family and friends.

Though quite different, both islands offer their own glimpse of paradise.

Caladesi Island, for instance, is secluded.

“You’re away from it all when you’re out there,” said Pete Krulder, park manager for Honeymoon Island State Park. “It is a very special place for a lot of people.”

Lots of tourists visit Caladesi because they’ve heard about its beach rating, Krulder said.

Honeymoon Island, on the other hand, draws substantial numbers of people from Florida, and from Tampa Bay in particular.

“We’re the most-visited state park in the state of Florida,” Krulder said. “We have folks who are in here twice a day. Caladesi is more of the occasional visitor. Honeymoon, you see the same visitor every day.”

The busiest times at Honeymoon Island State Park are from March until right after Labor Day, Krulder said. There also is an annual uptick when winter residents arrive.

Caladesi’s busy times mirror Honeymoon Island’s, though it tends to draw more snowbirds when the weather is nice, Krulder said. Caladesi gets a fair amount of boat traffic on a regular basis, too.

On a recent day at Honeymoon Island, the parking lot was filled with cars, mostly from Florida. But there also were cars from Ohio, Illinois, Vermont, New Jersey, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Connecticut, North Carolina and Arkansas.

The top draw on both islands is the beach. Both islands also boast excellent shelling and beautiful nature trails, Krulder said. And at Caladesi, there’s a marina.

There’s also a kayak trail that traverses through the mangroves.

“There are spots where you can barely paddle, it’s that narrow,” Krulder said.

“Both Honeymoon and Caladesi have some of the few remaining virgin slash pine forests in the state of Florida,” Krulder added, noting those forests have never been logged.

One tree, on the north end of Honeymoon Island’s nature trail was core dated in 2007, and discovered to be at least 185 years old, he said. That means the tree would have sprouted during the second term of President James Monroe, the nation’s fifth president.

Other interesting features along the Honeymoon Island nature trail include osprey, bald eagle and great-horned owl nests.

Wildlife on the islands includes raccoons, snakes and gopher tortoises. While the Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake has been known to slither there, snake sightings are uncommon, Krulder said.

Island visitors who enjoy local history may find it interesting to learn that Honeymoon and Caladesi islands were both once part of a larger land mass called Hog Island, named after the hogs that roamed freely there. A hurricane struck that island in 1921, splitting it in two. The resulting water passage between the two islands is called Hurricane Pass.

Hog Island took on a new persona through a promotional campaign by its owner at the time, Clinton Washburn. Washburn and Life magazine in 1939 had a contest for newlyweds, with winners receiving a two-week stay on what became known as Honeymoon Isle.

Little cottages were constructed to house the honeymooners, who were flown on and off of the island. The palm-frond honeymoon huts had appropriate names, such as “Lover’s Nook.”

Pictures from 1940 at the Rotary Centennial Nature Center on Honeymoon Island depict some of those couples, hamming it up for cameras.

Krulder recently received a scrapbook and other memorabilia from the daughter of a couple who honeymooned at the island. He plans to have a special case built to display it.

Caladesi Island, which became a state park in 1967, also has a colorful history.

Ancient ceremonial and burial mounds show Native Americans occupied the island long before Europeans arrived, according to a historic sign there.

After the Spanish conquest of La Florida in the 1500s, the island was used for seasonal encampments and fish ranches. Tall ships moored offshore, and soldiers and sailors came ashore to hunt, fish and camp, the sign says.

No one seems to know the origin for Caladesi Island’s name, Krulder said, but an entire book has been written about a homesteader who settled there in 1892.

In her book, “Yesteryear, I Lived in Paradise,” Myrtle Scharrer Betz describes the idyllic life of growing up on Caladesi Island, a place where her father, Henry Scharrer, built a house.

When Betz was growing up, Krulder said, “She rowed a boat from the south end of Caladesi Island to Main Street in Dunedin. They say she very rarely missed a day of school.”

The future of Honeymoon Island was threatened during the 1960s.

“There was an attempt to develop the island. What they wanted to do was make the island 10 times its natural size,” Krulder said.

A developer envisioned thousands of residents moving onto the island. That effort, however, was thwarted and officials from both Dunedin and the state began acquiring the land for Honeymoon Island State Park, which opened in 1981.

If you go …
WHAT: Honeymoon Island State Park

WHERE: 1 Causeway Blvd., at the extreme west end of State Road 586 in Dunedin

WHEN: 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year.

COST: Ranges from $2 to $8 for vehicles up to 8 people, pedestrians and bicyclists; Sunset fee is $4 per vehicle, one hour before

INFO: Call (727) 469-5942

If you go …
The ferry for Caladesi Island departs from Honeymoon Island beginning at 10 a.m., with half-hour departures from mid-February through mid-September. Departures are hourly in other months.

The ferry cost, roundtrip, is $14 for adults, $7 for children up to 12, and free for kids 5 and younger.

Visitors are allowed up to a four-hour stay on Caladesi Island.

Published June 25, 2014

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Creativity wins local kids trip to Washington, D.C.

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The trio jetted to Washington, D.C., to meet with a member of Congress, to hear remarks from the chief executive of an international company, and to take part in television interviews. And they are all still in elementary school.

Sophia Nobles, left, Catie Tomasello and Joey Santana have their picture taken with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson while visiting the nation’s capital. The kids won the trip by placing second nationally in the 22nd annual Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision STEM competition. (Courtesy of Heather Tomasello)
Sophia Nobles, left, Catie Tomasello and Joey Santana have their picture taken with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson while visiting the nation’s capital. The kids won the trip by placing second nationally in the 22nd annual Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision STEM competition.
(Courtesy of Heather Tomasello)

Joey Santana, Sophia Nobles and Catie Tomasello recently returned from a trip to the nation’s capital, and a whirlwind of appearances there. The Countryside Montessori Charter School students took the trip to receive their second-place honors in their age division in the 22nd annual Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision STEM competition, provided by the electronics company and the National Science Teachers Association. STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The team, coached by Lorna Cohen, finished among the top eight in the country. The contest itself drew more than 4,900 entries, representing nearly 15,300 students and 550 schools across the United States and Canada, according to the contest website.

It is the world’s largest science and technology competition for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. It encourages them to develop problem-solving, critical thinking and collaboration skills.

Contestants are asked to imagine what technology might be like in 20 years. They work in teams to propose ideas for innovative future technology based on what already exists. They simulate scientific research to outline how they plan to test their idea, and they build websites to further illustrate and communicate their concepts.

For their entry, the Countryside Montessori students envisioned WateRenew, a concept that uses the technology of Wave Wings  — which are wings that sway back and forth in the ocean, creating mechanical energy that can be converted to electricity. That electricity would then be used to power a leading edge desalination plant, which in turn creates clean drinking water for homes and businesses.

Florida’s water shortages inspired the team to search for a solution, Nobles and Tomasello said. The team began meeting in September, and team members spent at least a couple of hours each week working on the project.

The team worked well together because they are friends and they respect each other, the girls said. The team divided the project into pieces, and each team member became an “expert” on one part of the project.

Nobles also noted that the team benefited from the help of Lee Marcum, of Clean and Green Enterprises, who took the time to talk to the team about his invention, the Wave Wing.

While in Washington D.C., team members met with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, and went a tour of the Capitol Building led by staff members of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis. Santana’s family also dropped by the office of U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, where they posed for photos.

The kids also took part in two television interviews with Bill Nye the Science Guy, and they participated in a science showcase. Other highlights included hearing remarks from Atsutoshi Nishida, chairman of Toshiba Corp., and doing some sightseeing.

Other winners in the competition also proposed creative solutions to challenging issues, according to the competition website. Third-grade students from Merion Station, Pennsylvania, developed a system designed to save people who are stuck in rip currents.

An entry from second-graders from Edmond, Oklahoma, aimed to save lives of babies, toddlers and animals left accidentally in a car. A team of fifth-graders from Locust Valley, New York, created an innovative plant power de-icing system for planes, while 10th graders from Toronto created a new technology that uses light signals to boost optical computing.

Besides the expenses-paid trip, the young students also each received a $5,000 U.S. Savings Bond.

Since its inception in 1992, more than 330,000 students have participated in the ExploraVision program.

Published June 25, 2014

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Pasco and Hillsborough students improve test scores

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Students across Florida, as well as in Pasco and Hillsborough counties posted gains on statewide end-of-course, or EOC, exams.

Scores improved in all of the assessment areas in Florida, with the biggest gain being a 10 percent improvement in U.S. History.

Pasco has one of 13 school districts in the state that posted gains in all four EOC assessments, with its biggest improvement being an 8-point increase on the U.S. History assessment, Florida Education commissioner Pam Stewart reported.

The passing rate for Pasco students taking the test for the first time improved on all four assessments, improving by 2 percent in Algebra I; 2 percent in biology; 3 percent in geometry and 8 percent in U.S. History.

Hillsborough’s scores improved in two of the four assessment areas, with a 14 percent percentage gain in U.S. History and a 4 percent gain in Algebra I.

Pasco students outperformed the state in the percentage of students achieving a passing score or higher in 2014, except for Algebra I.

Some notable scores from Pasco schools include a 5-percent bump in the passing rate on the Algebra I assessment at Land O’ Lakes High School, a 7-percent gain by Wiregrass Ranch High School students on the Biology I assessment, and an 8-percent improvement on the same assessment at Zephyrhills High School.

Both Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass also posted big improvements in the passing rate on the geometry assessment. Wesley Chapel’s passing rate improved by 22 percent. Wiregrass Ranch boosted its passing rate by 13 percent. Students at both Zephyrhills and Sunlake high schools improved their passing rate by 6 percent, with Sunlake achieving a 73 percent passing rate and Zephyrhills boosting its passing rate to 60 percent.

Wesley Chapel principal Carin Nettles was delighted with her school’s results.

“I am thrilled about our scores,” she said. “We are very proud of the work our math department has done.”

The principal credits collaboration among faculty members during professional learning community meetings. Teachers are sharing “the best common lessons and assessments for our students,” she said.  Teachers also have provided tutoring to help their students succeed.

Superintendent Kurt Browning said in a release that because the scores “reflect what we are teaching in the classroom, end-of-course exams present a much more accurate picture of our students’ learning during this time of transition than do high-stakes tests” like the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

Published June 25, 2014

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